CARS (Citizen Advocates for Rail Service)
exists for the purpose of returning useable rail passenger
service to Central Pennsylvania.
2. Current
Projects
CARS is in the process of facilitating the
state of Pennsylvania to do a feasibility study, for rail
passenger service in Central Pennsylvania.
CARS is also in the process of trying to
get all interested groups and citizens organized into one unified
effort.
3. Position Paper Of
2/17/00
Note: The following text is taken
from Roger Downing's Position Paper acquired on 2/17/00
We are C A R S
Citizen Advocates for Rail Service
This is a new and different kind of
cars
One aim of C A R S is to have everyone take
a train ride. Many in today's world have never had a train ride.
The long distance trip is the best, you see more and even spend
the night. But even a short ride lets you see a different world
than you can see from a car, an airplane or a bus. You may like it
or you may not but you should give it a 'shot'.
C A R S is a collection of individuals
whose major goal to use existing railroad lines to bring back
passenger service to central Pennsylvania. In particular the 11
county SEDA-COG region. The service would go up the Susquehanna
river from Harrisburg through Selinsgrove, Sunbury, Lewisburg,
Milton, Muncy, Loyalsock, Williamsport, Lock Haven, and State
College (via C A T A bus at Milesburg or Port Matilda) and
connecting again to AMTRAK at Tyrone. This region contains 452,426
( 1990 Census) people and is growing fast. It is a great
opportunity to utilize an existing railroad to start a new trend
towards a more environmentally Friendly transportation system that
was abandoned in the 1970's and whose time has now come again.
The train is the best way for the persons
with disabilities and seniors to travel. The train provides more
choices for travel and is more friendly and sociable than cars and
airlines . A train ride is so enjoyable that there are 20 tourist
railroads operating in Pennsylvania. The fact is that on a train
you can move about ,sleep, eat ,drink and even be entertained
while you travel.
We in central Pennsylvania know that the
car and in more recent times the S U V is king. We think it is
time for the new C A R S to enter the picture and make it's
presence felt. We deserve to be heard and one thing for sure we
will never ever give up!
Cars are one of our strongest loves. We can
not get along without them today. Our whole world is built around
the cars and trucks, all day and all night, we live in and for
them. Our auto-oriented development has meant that farm land is
being used up. If this continues, population and urbanization will
have to be controlled at some point, to balance food production
and urban sprawl. Train-oriented development is more compact and
less wasteful.
Trains (2315 Btu's per passenger-mile) are
more efficient than airlines (4236 Btu's per passenger-mile).
Since many cars on the road today have only one passenger the
problem is even worse. An SUV with one passenger (9230 Btu's per
passenger mile) . This is a major reason why trains pollute less
.
The area of Pennsylvania that C A R S is
interested in is currently served by three bus companies Greyhound
, Capitol Trailways and Fullington Trailways and two airline
service airports. These buses and airports like all other forms of
transportation, are dependent on the government for money. C A R S
wants all forms of transportation to get their fair share of
government money.
GOOD THINGS GOING FOR RAIL
EFFICENT LESS BTU/MILE
USES EXISTING RESOURCES
LESS PULLUTION
USES LESS LAND
PROVIDES A MORE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT BETTER
FOR DISABLED AND SENIORS
CAN BRING FAMLIES CLOSER
TOGETHER
4. Contacts
Main Contact
Frank Berns- Hughesville -
570-584-2121 (email below)
Other Contacts
5. Links
Adtranz -- www.adtranz.com
-- manufacturers of rail passenger equipment
